ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Fortified Rice under ICDS
Under Wheat based Nutrition Programme of Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 , fortified rice is allocated to all States/UTs across the country.
Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman   is an on-going Centrally-Sponsored Scheme which covers all school children studying in Balvatika and classes I-VIII of Government and Government-aided schools. Government of India has approved Centrally sponsored pilot scheme on “Fortification of Rice & its Distribution under Public Distribution System on 14.02.2019 for a period of three years beginning 2019-20. M/o Consumer Affairs and Food and Public Distribution is the Nodal Ministry in the matter. DoSE&L issued instructions to all the States/UTs to use fortified rice wherever supplied by Food Corporation of India . As per information received, fortified rice is distributed/consumed in all districts across the country subject to availability of fortified rice.
A robust ICT enabled platform named as “Poshan Tracker” management application has been launched which provides a view of the activities at the Anganwadi Centre , service deliveries of Anganwadi Workers  and beneficiary management for pregnant women, lactating mothers and children. The application aims to improve governance with regard to real time monitoring and provisioning of supplementary nutrition for prompt supervisions and management of services. Further, for the first time, Anganwadi workers have been provided with 11.30 lakh smart phones. Besides, to promote regular growth monitoring, 11.94 lakh Growth Monitoring Devices  have been procured by States/UTs under the Abhiyaan.
Under Wheat based Nutrition Programme of Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 , from the third quarter onwards of FY 2021-22, 100 percent fortified Rice is being distributed to all the States/UTs across the country which also includes aspirational and heavy burdened districts as well.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani, in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
Special Service and Features
Programmes that bring to light the immense contribution of unsung heroes of our freedom struggle will be an eye opener for the future generations to know the history
-Shri D. Venkatesh, Conservator of Forests & Field Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Nilgiris
Exhibitions and programmes that bring to light the immense contribution of unsung heroes of our freedom struggle will be an eye opener for the future generations to know the history and sacrifice behind the freedom that we enjoy today. This was stated by Shri D. Venkatesh IFS, Conservator of Forests & Field Director, Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, Nilgiris, during the inauguration of a photo exhibition organised in Nilgiris by the Regional Outreach Bureau, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Chennai to commemorate 75 years of Indian Independence and the freedom fighters who sacrificed their lives in the struggle.
As we are celebrating 75 years of Indian Independence, such exhibitions will make the citizens aware of the unknown freedom fighters, he said.
Dr. S. Udayakumar, Director, Tribal Research Centre, Nilgiris said that the Central and State Governments have come up with a lot of welfare schemes and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs is also playing an important role for the development of tribal community. Tribal leaders also actively participated in the freedom struggle and the anniversary of Shri Birsa Munda, the tribal freedom fighter is now celebrated as Jan Jatiya Diwas, he added.
While delivering the special address, Shri S. Venkateswar IIS, Director General , Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said that least popular and local freedom fighters of South India are being highlighted in these exhibitions. Around 750 exhibitions will be held on this theme in the coming days throughout the country, he informed. Radical changes have been made in our country since independence due to the efforts of freedom fighters, he said.
Shri M. Annadurai IIS, Additional Director General, Press Information Bureau/Regional Outreach Bureau, Chennai said such exhibitions are conducted across the state to create more awareness about the struggle of freedom fighters. He asked the public to gain knowledge about the different schemes and loans available and utilize them effectively.
Earlier, Shri J. Kamaraj IIS, Director, Regional Outreach Bureau, Chennai welcomed the gathering and Smt. Kareena B. Thengamam, Deputy Director, Field Outreach Bureau, Coimbatore rendered vote of thanks.
During the inaugural ceremony, floral tribute was paid to the bust of Mahatma Gandhi and pamphlets on tribal welfare schemes and a special booklet on Central Government schemes were also released. Shri Jayaraman, Project Director, District Rural Development Agency and Smt. Parimalam, Adidravidar Welfare officer, Nilgiris were felicitated by the dignitaries.
The traditional dance of Todas and Kotas- the tribes of Nilgiris attracted the attention of audience. A special session on Yoga and tribal welfare was another highlight in the exhibition that will be open for the public till 24th May, 2022.
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Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department continues search action in J&K Region
Income Tax Department conducted search and seizure operations at 5 locations in the Kashmir Valley today. The searches were carried-out against a Group which is a monopolistic wholesale distributer of pharmaceuticals in the Kashmir Valley. It was gathered that the Group charged huge premium on life saving drugs which were exclusively sourced through it in the Valley and the extra normal profits earned by this modus operandi were used for investment in real estate in Srinagar, as well as for unaccounted expenditure by the promoter’s family not disclosed in their income tax returns.
The search action has yielded incriminating documents and digital evidence that suggest huge concealment of income by the promoter and his family members. Apparently, Rs. 3.08 crore of on-money in transactions of 2 pieces of land in Srinagar has been earned by the Group, which has not been disclosed in the returns of income. The digital evidence in the form of hard disc that has been seized, indicates that a part of the sales proceeds, approximating nearly 10% of the turnover are kept outside the books of accounts to suppress profits.
The search action has also led to unearthing of an undisclosed bank account in the name of a family member of the promoter of the Group in the J& K Bank at the Allamgiri Branch in Srinagar. The proceeds in this bank account are apparently used to channel unaccounted income earned in the pharmaceutical business. Three bank lockers of the Group have also been found in the search and their operation is likely to yield more incriminating evidence against the Group. The Group has been allowed restructuring of its debt owed to J&K Bank, whereby 50 percent of its monthly interest repayment is waived. Prima facie, the debt has been restructured in a manner that defies normal commercial transaction norms.
The searched Group had deposited cash of Rs. 47.20 lakh in the old demonetised currency during the demonetisation period. The source of this cash remains unexplained.
Ministry of Coal
Dr. Inder Jit Singh assumes charge as Secretary, Ministry of Coal
Dr. Inder Jit Singh,  assumed charge as Secretary, Ministry of Coal this morning at Shastri Bhawan office, New Delhi. Senior Officials of Coal Ministry were also present on this occasion.
Dr. Inder Jit Singh took over the charge of Secretary which fell vacant after superannuation of Shri Susheel Kumar  on April 30 this year. In the interim, Secretary Mines, Shri Anil G Mukhim  had been holding additional charge as Secretary, Coal.
Prior to this appointment as Coal Secretary, Dr. Inder Jit Singh was posted as Secretary  in Cabinet Secretariat. Dr. Singh is a Ph.D in Economics from Punjab University. In the past he has also held positions in Ministry of Commerce, MNRE at the Centre and other significant portfolios in the State cadre.
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Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department seizes cash more than Rs. 6 crores from hawala operator in Margao
During the course of election surveillance being carried out for the ensuing assembly elections in Goa, the Income Tax Department, has, on 29.01.2022, conducted search action in Margao, Goa on specific inputs from Inspector General of Police, Goa. Intelligence information was received that the cash is in possession of a hawala operator at his residence at Margao. Accordingly, a warrant was executed by the Income Tax Department and a search as per the provision of Income tax Act was conducted. During the course of search, it was found that the hawala operator had made a hidden cavity at his residence for storing cash and other valuables wherein cash was found. Further, cash was also found kept in a secret compartment in a car parked at his residence which was made specifically for transporting cash and other valuables. The search and seizure operation led to seizure of cash of Rs.6.20 crores. On being questioned by the department, the hawala operator has stated that the cash is hawala money. He does hawala for hardware traders of Goa. However, various inconsistencies have been observed in the statement of the hawala operator and it is believed that the cash was meant to be distributed amongst voters for influencing them during the forthcoming general legislative assembly election to Goa, 2022. In this regard, further investigations are in progress.
During elections, it is learnt that the distribution of cash to voters is done in order to influence them thus adversely affecting the objectives of free and fair election. Seizure of unaccounted cash will reduce the possibility of its utilisation for electoral purposes and will aid the objective of free, fair and transparent election in the State of Goa. The Income Tax department has stepped up its monitoring and is closely watching the cash movement during the ensuing assembly elections.
The Income tax Department has also set up a 24x7 control room on 3rd Floor, Tristar Building, Patto, panaji, Goa for receiving complaints/information regarding movement of cash and other items suspected to be used for influencing or bribing the electors. The control room can be contacted through toll free number 1800-233-3941 or on mobile numbers 8275803725 and 9403809343 or on Email ID goaelections@incometax.gov.in.
President's Secretariat
Selected Student Innovators of Atal Tinkering Lab Marathon 2018 Call on the President
A group of selected student innovators of the Atal Tinkering Lab Marathon 2018, called on the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, at Rashtrapati Bhavan today .
Addressing the student innovators, the President was happy to note that they were selected as the best innovators from approximately 50,000 students from 2700 schools across the country. He was impressed to see their exhibits. He said that it makes him wonder what young children of this nation can achieve when given the opportunity to think unconventionally. We may be facing difficult challenges in the world today, but we also have young people, like them, willing to think differently to find the solutions to these problems.
Praising the work done by Atal innovation mission and Atal tinkering lab, the President said that we need to provide an ecosystem where the innovations that these young minds come up with, can be nurtured. By encouraging children to tinker and innovate, we are fostering a generation who will be self-reliant and resourceful. A generation that will be job creators and not just job seekers. He expressed hope to see these young boys and girls one day as successful entrepreneurs.
Click here to see President's speech:
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles death of Shri PV Chalapathi Rao
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed sorrow on the demise of veteran BJP leader Shri PV Chalapathi Rao.
In a tweet, Shri Modi said :
"Shri PV Chalapathi Rao Garu will be remembered for his outstanding service and patriotic zeal. He will remain a source of inspiration for countless BJP Karyakartas. Anguished by his demise. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti."
Prime Minister's Office
Prime Minister’s meeting with President of the French Republic
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting over lunch with H.E. Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, on 10 September 2023, on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in New Delhi. President Macron’s visit to India comes after Prime Minister visit to Paris in July 2023 as the Guest of Honour on the occasion of French National Day on 14 July 2023, commemorating the 25th anniversary of the India-France strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Macron congratulated Prime Minister on the success of India's G20 Presidency. Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Macron for France’s support in this regard.
The two leaders discussed and reviewed bilateral relations, particularly in the context of the ‘Horizon 2047’ Roadmap, the Indo-Pacific Roadmap and other outcomes that emerged during Prime Minister recent visit. They also discussed the implementation of the goals for cooperation in areas of defence, space including industrial and startup cooperation, nuclear energy including partnership for co-developing SMR and AMR technolgies, digital public infrastructure, critical technology, connectivity, energy, climate change, education, cooperation in National Museum and people-to-people contacts.
The two leaders exchanged views on important international and regional developments, including on the Indo-Pacific region and stressed on the need for reformed multilateralism. They welcomed the announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor  and pledged to work together for its implementation.
President Macron congratulated Prime Minister on India’s successful Chandrayaan-3 Mission. The two leaders recalled six decades of India-France Space cooperation.
Ministry of Finance
CGST East Delhi Commissionerate arrests two for defrauding Government Exchequer of more than Rs 392 crore
In their continuous endeavour to uproot fake billing operations, officers of Central Goods and Services Tax  Commissionerate, Delhi  achieved yet another success when investigations led to unearthing of a massive network of fictitious firms to generate and avail fake Input Tax Credit  of Goods and Services Tax . The network of fictitious companies was being operated by one Shri Naresh Dhoundiyal in connivance with one Shri Devender Kumar Goyal, who is a Charted Accountant by profession. Both Shri Naresh Dhoundiyal and Shri Devender Kumar Goyal are former employees of Essel Group. Though they are presently not working with the Essel group officially, however, they are passing on inadmissible ITC to the said group. Investigations indicate that a layer of genuine looking fictitious intermediatory companies was created to pass on bogus ITC from non-existent and fake firms to the companies of Essel Group without actual supply of any goods or services. This was apparently done to enable Essel Group to avail inadmissible Input Tax Credit of GST, book expenses to evade Income Tax and inflate their turnover to push the share prices of their listed companies.
Shri Naresh Dhoundiyal incorporated multiple fictitious intermediatory companies for Essel Group whereas, Shri Devender Kumar Goyal, CA arranged the fake invoices of various other fictitious and non-existent firms for such fictitious intermediatory companies. The total fake Input Tax Credit passed on by such fictitious intermediatory companies is quantified to be Rs. 92.18 crore whereas, the total fake Input Tax Credit passed on by other fictitious and non-existent firms pertaining to the larger network is quantified to be more than Rs. 300 crore. The syndicate has thus defrauded the Government exchequer of more than Rs. 392 crore by issuing bogus invoices of more that Rs. 3,000 crore without actual supply of any goods or services which is likely to increase as the investigation progresses. It is pertinent to mention that M/s Vertilink Media Solutions Private Limited has admitted the evasion and have voluntarily deposited Rs 2.5 crore.
Shri Naresh Dhoundiyal and Shri Devender Kumar Goyal, CA hatched a deep-rooted criminal conspiracy with the intend to defraud the Government exchequer and knowingly committed offences specified under Section 132 and 132 of the CGST Act, 2017 which are cognizable and non-bailable offences as per the provisions of Section 132 and punishable under clause  of sub section 1 of Section 132 of the Act ibid. Shri Naresh Dhoundiyal and Shri Devender Kumar Goyal, CA have been arrested under Section 69 of the CGST Act, 2017 and produced before the Duty Magistrate on 04.03.2021 who remanded them to judicial custody of 14 days till 18.03.2021. Further investigation in the case is in process.
It is pertinent to mention here that since the inception of GST Central Tax, Delhi Zone has made 30 arrests in various cases involving GST evasion amounting of more than Rs. 4,450.86 crore.
Ministry of Finance
Income Tax Department conducts searches in Kolkata
Income Tax Department carried out search and seizure action on 05.02.2021 on various groups based in Kolkata, engaged in the business of Pharmaceutical manufacturing, diagnostic services and hospitals. The cases were developed based on the available data in the departmental database, analysis of their financial statements, market intelligence and field enquiries. Search and seizure action was carried out at more than 17 premises at Kolkata, Haridwar and Bhubaneswar.
The search action has resulted in unearthing of incriminating evidence revealing various shell entities being used for raising bogus share capital/unsecured loans, expenditure incurred in renovation of property in cash etc. Evidence of out of books cash transactions has also been found. As a result of enquiries conducted during the course of search proceedings, it has been established that the groups have used paper/shell companies to route back their own unaccounted money. A Finance broker engaged in facilitating cash loans to the group was also covered during the operation, who confirmed the transactions.
A total concealment of income amounting to Rs. 300 crore has been detected so far. Cash amounting to Rs. 87 lakh and Jewellery worth Rs. 61 lakh has been seized. 8 Bank lockers have been put under restraint. The assessees have made an admission of undisclosed income amounting to Rs. 50 crore.
Further investigations are in progress.
Special Service and Features
Covid-19 tests to be cheaper at Chennai International Airport
In a major relief for international passengers and aviation community of the region, AAI Chennai Airport has slashed the rates for Rapid PCR /RT PCR test at airport with effect from 8 December, 2021.
The existing rate of Rs.3400 for Rapid PCR test is reduced to Rs. 2900 and the rate for RT-PCR test is reduced from Rs.700 to Rs. 600. The decision to reduce the cost of testing at Chennai Airport is expected to provide immediate respite to the passengers and was taken by AAI in the best interest of its passengers and aligning with pandemic situation.
Chennai Airport has decided to reduce the rates by forgoing the revenue share of tests conducted at airport and the benefit of the same will be passed on to the passengers resulting in reduced cost for the tests.
In view of the new variant of Covid , Centre and State government have issued fresh guidelines for international arrivals wherein RT-PCR has been made mandatory for all passengers arriving from at –risk countries and random check of 2 per cent of total flight passengers arriving from non-at-risk countries.
At Chennai Airport an exclusive corridor with holding area and amenities has been established at T-4 to screen passengers arriving from at-risk countries. RT-PCR and Rapid PCR were extended to arrival also. State Health Department has extended free RT –PCR test for random check passengers  arriving from non-at-risk countries.
HLL Hindlabs is the testing partner. Passengers can pre-book and pay for the test online so as to reduce the time for screening process on arrival in the wake of new covid variant.
Link: http://tinyurl.com/PATAAI
The above details have been stated in a press release issued by the Corporate Communications Department of AAI Chennai Airport
Ministry of Education
IIT Bombay students launch Indian alternative to Scanning Apps
Here comes an indigenous alternative to Chinese document-scanning apps, following Government of India’s decision to ban 59 mobile apps which were prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India. AIR Scanner, a free-of-cost mobile application, has been developed Rohit Kumar Chaudhary and Kavin Agrawal, two final-year B.Tech students in the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Bombay. Their inspiration comes from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s clarion call for an Aatma Nirbhar Bharat.
AIR Scanner has been launched on Independence Day, 15th August 2020. The AI  based Reading Assistant & Document Scanner app can scan documents and also read to users who have difficulty in reading English.
“Initially, we had been working on developing an app to make reading experience easy for people who find it difficult to read English. It was then that the Indian government banned many Chinese apps including mobile scanner apps. After the ban on Chinese app – CamScanner, we surveyed and found that people are facing issues in scanning and organising documents through their mobile phones. It was then we decided to add scanning features too to our existing AIR App”, says Rohit Kumar Chaudhary, one of the developers.
What makes this app special are its exclusive safety features.
The document you scan using your mobile camera will be saved in PDF format and will be stored in the device only. “AIR Scanner app does not collect any information about the user and all the documents are stored in the phone’s local storage. We are not using any cloud storage to store the documents of the users. The app guarantees complete user security.”, Rohit Kumar added.
The app is free of cost and at the same time completely secure. “Many scanner apps require users to sign-in to their apps. Once you sign-in to the application, they automatically back-up all your documents and your personal information into their cloud. This is where the security issue arises. AIR Scanner app doesn’t even require you to sign-in”, he said.
With this app, every user can enjoy all the document scanner features such as scanning, organizing and sharing documents without worrying about its security.
Added advantage of this app is its Artificial Intelligence feature that reads out the scanned pages and also provides meaning of the selected word to the user in 40 different languages.
“The motivation behind this innovation is to help people in education. As of now, it is available in English language only, but we are planning to make it available in multiple languages which will make it easy for anyone to read any language.
Soon we are planning to convert this project into a Start-Up.
As of now there are 1500 downloads from the Play Store. Currently it is available for Android users only but soon it will be released for iOS users too”, he said.
The application can be downloaded from the following link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hind.airscanner.